The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-30

as the heavens themselves, and they proudly DEFY
time, distance, and every Circumstance of life.
Yes survivors of Hoods brigade those who fell
in the prime of their maahood's strength, at Ell
tham's landing, or at the Seven Pines, or at
Gaines Farm, or on Malvern Hill, or by freeman 8
Ford, or at Manassas, or on Chickamaugas
heights or at Gettysburg, or at Sharpsburg, and
those whose souls went out amid the expiring ag-
onies of the C2nfedsracy in the deep gloom OF the
are with you to-day Ia truth
Their faces do look upon you,
Their forms 90 trooping past.
Aud those battle days of yours, | do not see
them to-day. Where are they? If they be at the
capitol as trophies of federal prowess, let thu m
there remain, unsoied by the dust of ages and I'M
touched by the ravages of time, eternal monn-
ments of Texan valor. Aye, let them remain there
which will not fail touch the hearts and fire the
souls of all who admire dauntless courage and un-
shaken fortitude in the hour of peril \, and
sands called from the mountains and
the valleys, from the plains and the woodlands of
the south to stand guard around the capital OF the
newly. born Confederacy but of them all no troops
crowned themselves with more lmperishable
halo of glory than those three regiments who
there and so often, did battle for the honor of
Texas and for the independence of their country
Truly were they the hJrepresentativhs of the Lone
star state-the worthy successors OF those who fell
SC. ,gloriously at the. Alamo, and who fought so
brilliantly at San Jacino
Theirs was proud duty, and proudly was that
duty performed.
Wnen tney turned tuelf races nOmeWalu; Dare
remnant of near 400 stalwart men, they brought
with them, as trophy, richer and more beautiful
than victorious soldier placed in the hand OF
beauty the consolation that they had faithfully and
fearlessly responded TO every call that had been
made upon them.
No danger had been 80 great to make them
afraid; no privation severe as to cause them to
falter; aud adversely bitter as to render them
despondent.
From the beginning to the end OF that great strug
ge-whether upon the advance or upon the re-
treat, amid the shock of battle or in tue bivouac,
naked or clad, barefoot or shod, parched by sum
heat OF shiyering beneath wn tine
rejoicing in victory defiant in defeat, they were,
at all times and at all places true to the troth
which they had plighted-the favOres of Hood;
and Longstreet and Jackson and Lee never called
to them In vain.
Beginning at Elthams Landing they then and
there entered upon that career of glory which they
so calamity followed through every peril and
through every privation, until the coming OF that
hour when he, whom they loved 30 well, babe
them fight no more.
But, let us take brief and hurried glance at some
of the memorable scenes through which you wsre
called upon to pass.
Says Maior-general Gustavus W. Smith, who
commanded at Elthams Landing, in his report of
that affair: "All the troops engaged showed the
finest spirit, were under perfect control ana be-,
haved admirably. The brunt of the contest was
borne by the Texans, and to them is due the
largest share of the day at Ethan" And we
have it from federal general, that, had it not
been for the enemy's gunboate, this would have
been another Bull Run affair.
Here the First Texas lost more than two-thirds
of all who fell upon the Confederate eide, among
the killed being Lieutenant-colonel Black.
Though greatly superior in numbers, the enemy
was driven to seek the protection of his gunbOats,
and the retirement of the Confederates from York
town out of the peninsula was safely accom-
plished.
TIER route led them along and close by deep,
navigabe river, filed with vessels of war, gun,
boats and transports of the enemy, and connected
with the line of march, at almost every mile by
good lateral roads leading to favorable landings"
But this engagement though important and sue
cessful, was but a. skirmish when compared
with the heavy and sanguinary battles in which
the brigade was to bear 80 prominent and 80 hon
orable part
Richmond was become an almost beleaguered
city, and the federal commander was concentrating
his troops preparatory to general battle, which, he
donment of the capital distance of only four
miles interviewed between the left wing of his
army and the goal of his ambition. But that dis
lance he was destined never to pass. 1t is unnec-
essary for me to enter into details as to the en-
gagement of May 81 and June 1, 1862, known as
the battle of the Seven Pines.
The brigade was placed in the left wing OF the
army. General Longstreet, who commanded upon
the right, being in need OF more troopsEueing the
Language of Major general Smith, who was In
moved, under orders and in double quick
time, through the mud and water, underbrush,
and other difficulties of the ground, to his assist
ance, driving in the advance pickets of the enemy
upon their support, and taking and passing their
camp with scarcely perceptible halt or notice,
still making resistance in front OF Longstree
and Hill" 80
"there is no reason to doubt that Hoods Brigade
of Texans upon the right and Grithths of Mis-
sissippians on che left, supported by the brigade
of General Semmes, would have enabled us, in one
more short hour of daylight to drive the enemy
into the swamps of the Chckahominy. AS it was
darkness compelled US to relinquish an unfinished
tack, and the troops, were withdrawn from The
wooded swamp Immediately in contact with the
enemy and bivouaced in the open field within
musket range of their strong, defensive posi-
ton" 49,
AS at Ethan landing, 80 at the Seven Pines
do we find the brigade in the front and eager tc
establish a reputation for those high soldlerly
uualities, which they were to 80 often and sc
abundantly demonstrate upon many hard fought
field before the final fall of the Confectionery A
most difficult and most dangerous task 1t was &c
accomplish, but the character of the TASK
was we'll understood and fully appreciated and
every man, with scarcely an exception, prepared
himself to meet the issue.
THE BATTLE OF GAINES FARM.
We now come to most critical period in the
early history of the COnfederacy The federals
were loving upon the capital by slow approaches
strongly and securely fortifying themselves a
every step of their advance.
in the valley, they who stood in close proximity tC
Richmond and were under McClellan's immediate
command, numbered full one hundred and titteer
thousand fighting men, exceeding the COntederateE
opposed to them by abont thirty five thousand. TIC
the practiced eve of Lee it appeared that something
should be uOne ana bndl, 100, quickly anu 6l
fectually if Richmond would be saved.
The enemy's lett was too strongly protected &c
be successfully assaulted, and with skill not in
ferior 10 that of the great Napoleon, he planned
and executed q movement which led to the over
whelming defeat of the enemy, to the abandon
ment of the lines which he had been 80 long form
ing and so laboriousiy protecting by every device
known to modern warefare, ending in precipitatt
retreat, with heavy loss of men and munitions o
war, to his gunboats upoI
the James My purpose, however
i5 to call your attention to the conduct OF the IeXa
brigade on that great occasion. Great things wer'
to be done; let us see who did them. Attached Il
the immediate command of ackson himself, thu
brigade bore its part during thu days battle
in a manner worthy the reputation it had alread
achieved: worthy the great state, OF whom it wa
the sole representative in that grand army; aat
worthy the illustriou5 soldier under whose lead
ership it was, for the time being, placed
Desiring to avoid every appearance of exaggera
ton, and anxious to present the facts to you as
they occurred, shall speak to You in the Language
/, of the commanding general-Robert e. Lee.
In his report of the seven days battle, he says;
ellis" Long street's) "column was quickly
formed near the open ground, and as his prepare
tions ware completed Jackson arrived, and hi
right division, that of Whiting, took position OIL
the left of Longstreet
The line being now complete, general advance
from right to left was ordered. On the night tht
troops moved forward with steadiness, unchecked
by the terrible fire from the triple lines of infantry
on tho hill and tha cannon on both sides OF tbs